Overview

• Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj reiterated that all occupied territories are integral to Ukraine, emphasizing that only Ukrainians can determine the nation's borders.
• Ukrainian forces struck a Russian missile brigade base in Kursk after a deadly Russian rocket attack on Sumy killed 35 civilians and injured 119.
• Reports indicate that Russia's military advances have slowed significantly, with high casualty figures, including 90,000 soldiers lost in the first quarter of 2025.
• Contentious WWII commemorations in Germany, including in Seelower Höhen, have sparked criticism over the participation of Russian representatives, despite recommendations to exclude them.
• Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of using WWII narratives to obscure ongoing war crimes, with the presence of Russian diplomats at commemorations viewed as politically provocative.